Summer Eating: a Case for Intuition
By Wilfredo Benitez
This year, the wintry season felt drawn-out here in the Pacific Northwest. Only recently have the planted seeds and starters of our various gardens started to flourish – but starting to flourish they are! This season, at least to me, is a pleasant and reassuring reminder that growth is always possible; it may be late, or perhaps right on time, but it does happen.
As a nutritionist, I am often asked about mindfulness and intuitive eating. There are varying degrees of what these terms mean and how they can look in action. I interpret intuitive eating as listening deeply to what the body is asking for, and then acting with intention and responsibility to nourish those needs. Some use this principle to defend eating foods that are harmful–like processed or sugar-laden foods–but this is not what true intuitive eating is or should be. I will reserve my thoughts on this for another time, and merely state again that listening to the needs of your body should be followed by choosing the foods that will nourish cravings and thirst rather than contribute to internal stress and dis-ease.
As the full heat of summer approaches, I am reminded that this season can readily reveal how often we can be eating intuitively without recognizing it. I’m also inspired that if we have not learned to eat intuitively, it is neither too late nor too difficult to start!
When the temperatures begin to rise, there is one area of nutrition that most of us give extra attention: hydration. Typically, we increase water consumption during this season because our body requires hydration to thermoregulate. In addition to drinking more water, our intuition tells us to eat foods that have a higher water content. Most people naturally choose to eat more fresh vegetables such as lettuces, sugar peas, and asparagus. They also eat more seasonal fruits such as tomatoes, berries, cherries, melon, plums, and peaches. I’m also convinced that many people cook smaller quantities of food in the summer not only to avoid adding additional heat to their homes, but because cooking removes water from foods, and our bodies crave this water. Another important seasonal consideration is that we generally don’t need to eat as much in the summer as we do in the winter, because we get more energy from the sun. This is why we can eat more nutrient- and water-dense foods, eat smaller quantities, and still feel vibrant and energetic throughout the warmer months.
When people are not eating this way and are quite literally eating against the season, their bodies are likely to struggle. Clinically, clients more frequently present with lower energy levels, dry skin, digestive issues, musculoskeletal complaints, and sleep issues. Many also experience frequent summer illnesses and seasonal allergies that persist well beyond the spring and continue into the fall.
These symptoms are signals; they are messages from our cells and body’s bacteria, alerting us that something is wrong or off-balance, and that we need to take action to correct-course. Seasonal eating – eating foods that naturally grow locally or regionally – allows nature to take care of our needs. By eating with the season’s bounty, we are aligning ourselves with nature and the natural rhythms of the seasons in a manner that will sustain our health and promote our innate vitality.
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Author’s note: this article included a focus on water and hydration as an example of intuitive eating, specifically during the summertime. We view water as a very important source of healing properties, and will be publishing a more practical piece in the future that covers water, filtration systems, and more.
